Neupogen-Filgrastim

Description
Your treatment is called filgrastim (fil-GRASS-tim) or Neupogen® (NEW-po-jin). It is commonly used to treat neutropenia (low white blood cells), which can be a side effect of chemotherapy treatment. White blood cells are the infection fighting cells of the body, and if their numbers become too low, it can put you at risk for developing infections. Filgrastim works by causing your bone marrow to make more white blood cells.

What Do I Need to Know Before Starting Treatment?

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter products you are taking, including dietary supplements, vitamins, herbal medicines and homeopathic remedies.

Use an effective birth control method while you are taking this medication. It is not known whether filgrastim can cause harm to a fetus, so be sure to tell your healthcare provider right away if you or your partner become pregnant.

Avoid breastfeeding during treatment. It is not known if filgrastim passes into breast milk.

What Do I Need to Know Before Starting Filgrastim?

If you have sickle cell disease, be sure to tell your health care provider before you start taking filgrastim. It is important to drink plenty of fluids while taking filgrastim.

In very rare cases, filgrastim can cause an enlarged or ruptured spleen. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in the upper left abdominal area or shoulder as these may be signs of an enlarged or ruptured spleen.

Call your healthcare provider right away or seek emergency care if you have shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or have a fast rate of breathing. In very rare cases, filgrastim can cause a serious lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Filgrastim can cause an allergic reaction. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have redness, swelling or itching at the site of the injection, skin rash or hives, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling around the mouth or eyes, fast pulse or sweating.

Your treatment can interact with other substances, including:

Lithium

Please note this list is a summary and does not contain all possible drug interactions. Contact your healthcare provider if you are taking any medications that can interact with filgrastim.

Who Should Not Take This Medication

You should not take this treatment if you are allergic to E coli-derived proteins‚ pegfilgrastim‚ filgrastim or any components of these drugs.

How Is the Treatment Given?

Filgrastim is given by injection under the skin or into a vein. Your dose and treatment schedule will depend on your diagnosis and your response to filgrastim. Your healthcare provider will determine your dose and the number of treatments you receive.

If you are injecting filgrastim at home, follow your healthcare provider’s instructions. Filgrastim should be stored in the refrigerator at 36°to 46°F (2°to 8°C). Do not freeze or shake the vial. Filgrastim left at room temperature for longer than 24 hours should be thrown away. Do NOT use any filgrastim vial if the drug is expired or if you notice any discoloration or free-floating particles in the solution.

If you are given any medicine to take at home, do not share it with others. Sharing this medication with anyone else could be harmful.

What Are the Possible Side Effects?

All drugs can cause side effects, but every person reacts differently to each drug. The following chart lists the possible side effects that can occur with your treatment, how to recognize and minimize symptoms and possible treatments. The side effects are grouped by how often the side effect occurs: Common (occurs in more than 25 percent of patients), Less Common (occurs in 5 to 25 percent of patients) or Rare (occurs in less than 5 percent of patients).

Side Effect

How to Minimize Side Effect

Possible Treatments

Bone pain (Common)

Generally mild to moderate severity

It is usually felt more in bones such as the pelvis, sternum or thigh bone

May be more frequent with intravenous (IV) administration and with higher doses of treatment

May be less frequent with subcutaneous (SC) administration and with lower doses of treatment

Plan rest periods throughout the day.

Ask your health care provider how to minimize the frequency of your pain.

Your healthcare provider may provide you with a non-narcotic pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®).

For severe bone pain you may receive a narcotic pain reliever such as hydrocodone (Vicodin®) or codeine.

Talk with your healthcare provider before taking any medications for bone pain.

What Are The Other Possible Side Effects?

The chart below lists additional side effects found with this treatment. It does not list all possible side effects. For more information, talk with your healthcare provider.